shogun & samurai; tales of nobunaga, hideyoshi, & ieyasu' by y.k. dykstra [translation of...

7/30/2019 'Shogun & Samurai; Tales of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, & Ieyasu' by Y.K. Dykstra [Translation of 'Meishgenkroku']

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Shogun and Samurai

Tales of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu

by

Okanoya Shigezane(1835-1919)

Translated and Edited

by

Andrew and Yoshiko Dykstra


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Shogun and Warlords

Tales of Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu

ContentsAcknowledgement

The background of the work

Story titles

The translation

Appendix

1. Map of the Old Provinces of Japan

2. Map of the Modern Prefectures of Japan

Selected Bibliography


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Acknowledgement

We appreciate our friends, including Professor Paul Varley of the University ofHawaii, Professor George Hlawatsch, and Professor Richard Swingle of the Kansaigaidai

University, who read our translations and gave us many precious suggestions.

The translation is based on the texts appearing in Meishgenkroku by Okanoya

Shigezane (1835-1919), Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1943. In translation, we placed family

names first in the Japanese style. All the story titles and the information in the brackets and

parentheses are supplied by the translators. Diacritics are deleted in popular place-names

including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanto, Honshu, Kyushu. The glossary contains main termsrelated to the stories. For dates and years, the Gregorian calendar is used in place of the old

Japanese way of calculation, as in 1596 for the first year of Keich.

Most of the illustrations come from the Ehon Taikki written by Takeuchi Kakusai

and illustrated by Okada Gyokusan (1797-1802) but was banned in 1804. The translators,

Andrew H. Dykstra was Provost Emeritus of the Kansaigaidai Hawaii College, Hawaii, and

Yoshiko K. Dykstra, Professor of the Kansaigaidai University, Osaka, Japan


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The Background of the work and the author

I will kill the cuckoo if it does not sing, said Nobunaga. I will make the cuckoo

sing, said Hideyoshi, and I will wait until the cuckoo sings, said Ieyasu. These three

views on a cuckoo tersely describe the personalities and characteristics of the three lords who

survived the warring period in sixteenth and seventeenth century Japan, and are the main

protagonists of this book, Shogun and Warlords.

A general view is: Oda Nobunaga1 took the first step to unify warring Japan;

Toyotomi Hideyoshi took over and attained Nobunagas half-achieved ambition, the

unification of Japan; and Tokugawa Ieyasu assumed the position of the first Shogun of the

Tokugawa Shogunate to rule a unified Japan. The well-systematized new Shogunate

succeeded in maintaining peace through more than two hundred and sixty years until the

black ships of Commodore Perry appeared at Shimoda in 1853.

This book, Shogun and Warlords, is based on theMeishgenkroku2, The Records of

the Sayings and Conduct of Famous Lordsby Okanoya Shigezane, a book that includes tales,

anecdotal accounts, and episodes of one hundred and twenty-nine lords from the fifteenth

through the seventeenth centuries, beginning with Lord Hj Sun. What was the purpose of

Shigezanes work? His introduction states, As I read the recent historical writings, the

detailed accounts of the conduct and sayings of past famous lords have been recorded

variously and have greatly benefited the people. However, unfortunately, these accounts are

1Oda Nobunaga1534-1582, Toyotomi Hideyoshi(1536-1598,Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-16162Meishogenkoroku by.Okanoya Shigezane contains one hundred and ninety-twolords and generals short biographical tales divided into seventy one maki., and first published in thirtymaki in 1871, and later in seventy maki in 1896which were given to Itou Hirobumi and other


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scattered, and it is difficult to obtain a body of information and materials for each lord.

Above all, some information is repetitious and erroneous. So I decided to take notes and

quotations from miscellaneous sources and compile my own work to help the serious readers.

Since then, I have researched and written down all important information that I found on each

lord when reading. Since my own library is not enough, I have borrowed books and used

others libraries as I expanded my work, which has become quite a strenuous toil. . .

The names and the titles of the books and writings to which he refers in his work

amount to a total of 1252 including various chronicles, biographies, diaries, and family andclan records as well as lost accounts of battles, revolts, incidents, and events. As Shigezane

also mentions in his introduction, Rather than describing the career of each lord, his

behavior, conduct and words are the main features of this work. Shigezane describes when

and how certain actions were taken and orders were issued, and gives the reasons for the

deeds and the words of the lords involved. Each story, written in the mixed kanji and kana

style, is short and anecdotal, but conveys pin-point views of the protagonists involved.

Shigezane began his work at about the age of nineteen in 1854, and finished in 1869. The

work was first published in 1871 in thirty maki (volumes).

The present book, Shogun and Warlords, includes 164 tales of the three prominent

warlords, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu, who distinguished themselves in the chaotic

warfare of sixteenth century Japan. The tales describe these lords in terms of their human

relationships with colleagues, vassals, and subjects, including retainers and servants. Even

when the authors biased views are discounted, these tales contribute to understanding the

contemporary intellectuals in appreciation of the meritorious deeds of the past samurai lords.


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life and times of the three lords, and also help us to grasp how and why they distinguished

themselves by overcoming odds and predicaments in very difficult situations.

Today, many Japanese businessmen read Shigezanes work to find hints and ideas to

improve relationships with their employees, colleagues, and business associates. The works

tales convey certain values still held by the Japanese, who enjoy the most high-tech life in the

world.

Let us briefly survey these three lords careers in relation to the tales in Shogun and

Warlords. Tales 1 and 2 of Nobunaga and tale 1 of Ieyasu in Shogun and Warlords clearly tellhow they were already perceptive and analytical in their youth, and quite distinct from other

children of their age.

Different from the two who were born in traditional samurai lordly families,

Hideyoshi was the son of a lowly, landless foot soldier. However, with the wit and talents

described in tales 2 and 3 of Hideyoshi, he successfully climbed the political ladder to the

position of Regent of the country. What was the condition of Japan when such a lowly man

could climb to heights even higher than the position of Shogun?

In 1467, the nin War3 began in Kyoto, involving the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa,

his younger brother Yoshimi, and his son Yoshihisa, as well as the two families of the

3nin War(1467-1477): The conflict over their inheritance among Ashikaga Shogun Yoshimasasyounger brother, Yoshimi , and his son, Yoshihisa , and the two supporting families loyal to the Ashikaga

Shogunate, the Hatakeyama and thehiba, triggered a greater fight between Hosokawa Katsumoto(leading the Eastern army) and Yamana Szen(leading the Western army) which devastated the city of Kyoto overthe span of ten years. As a result, the Ashikaga Shogunate lost political power while the traditionalshen (manor system)collapsed, and local military magnates became prominent as they developed into sengoku warring daimyo whoexpanded their territories. The Yamana was a prosperous family in the Muromachi Period once controlling eleven provincesin the Chgoku Area. Yamana Szen (1404-73), nicknamed the Red Monk, was one of the protagonists in the nin War.For the background of the war, see Varley, pp.123-135: for the causes of the war, see Yoshimura, pp.67-102; for the effect ofthe war on the people in Kyoto, see Kobayashi, pp.1-31.


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Hatakeyama and the Shiba, who competed for inheritance rights. Eventually the conflict

developed into further struggles between tow great families, the Hosokawa and Yamana. By

the time the fighting ended in 1477, the capital was devastated and the suzerainty of the

Ashikaga Shogunate had declined while the local daimyo acquired power, and eventually a

trend termed gekokuj, the lower supplanting the higher, became prominent as in Hideyoshis

case.

Under these circumstances, those who acquired power by conquering their weaker

neighbors wished to go up to the capital to obtain Imperial approval for their political

hegemony. Among such ambitious lords, Nobunaga was the first who had the aspiration to

unify warring Japan.

Oda Nobunaga:

Born as the second son of Oda Nobuhide in Owari Province, Nobunagas youthful

name was Kippshi, as related in tales 1 and 2. He was a wild and uncontrollable youth,

paying little heed to the governance of his domains. The Oda family elder, Hirate Masahide,

feeling responsible for Nobunagas wild behavior, committed suicide as a remonstrance.

Moved by Masahides devotion, Nobunaga reformed himself, as described in tales 3 and 4.

His strong concern and attachment to Masahide is tersely described in tale 33.

Despite Nobunagas extraordinary appearance, a certain foreign Christian

missionary appraised him, saying, He was tall, slender, and delicate in constitution and did

not seem able to survive misfortunes. Yet his mind and spirit were strong enough to

compensate for his physical weakness. I have never met a man with a greater sense of honor

than he. The Nobunagas extraordinary appearance deceived his enemies is clearly


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described in tale 5. Tales 6 and 7 tell how cunning and shrewd Nobunaga was in weakening

the power of his future enemy, Sait Dsan,4 by using his wife, who was Dsans daughter.

Succeeding his father in 1549 at the age of 15, Nobunaga defeated the powerful

army of Imagawa Yoshimoto at Okehazama in 1560. In his dealings with the Imagawa,

whom he destroyed, the treacherous Nobunaga is described in tales 8 and 9. Subsequently he

attacked the Sait in Mino Province in 1564, and moved to Inabayama Castle which had

belonged to the Sait. It remained his headquarters until he moved to Azuchi Castle in 1576.

Before this, Emperor gimachi

5

and Ashikaga Yoshiaki

6

had secretly asked Nobunaga torestore peace in the country. He attacked the Rokkaku in mi Province, took their Kannonji

Castle, and entered the capital of Kyoto unopposed in 1568. His relationship with the

Emperor and his activities in the capital are described in tale 13.

Nobunaga then controlled Yamashiro, Kawachi, and Izumi Provinces. Yoshiaki was

made Shogun and Nobunaga was rewarded. Loyal to the Emperor, he contributed large

funds for the upkeep of the Imperial Court and ordered that the Imperial Court nobles estates

confiscated by warlords be returned to their original owners. He also had a mansion built for

Shogun Yoshiaki in Kyoto.

As tale 11 tells us, Nobunaga made peace with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and together they

4Sait Toshimasa Dsan(1494-1556): A former priest and oil merchant, Dsan murdered Nagai Nagahirowho had protected him. He made war against Oda Nobuhide(Nobunagas father), and had his daughter marry

Nobunaga. When his adopted son, Yoshitatsu, challenged him, he went to war and was killed.5During the time of Emperor Ogimachi1517-1593, Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were active in the unificationof Japan. At the age of 70 the emperor abdicated in favor of his grandson, Gyozei (r.1567-1611).6Ashikaga Yoshiaki, also called Kgenin (1537-1597) took the tonsure, but later was assisted by Nobunaga, and

became the fifteenth Ashikaga Shogun. Later due to a conflict against Nobunaga, he was expelled from Kyoto, finally wasaided by Hideyoshi , and died in Osaka. For the relation of Nobunaga and Yoshiaki, see Berry, PP. 41-44.


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attempted to subdue Asakura Yoshikage7, a warlord in Echizen, but were unsuccessful owing

to the intervention of Asai Nagamasa8. Nobunagas attack on the militant priests of Mt. Hiei

in 1571 appears in tale 16. Setting their temples on fire, Nobunagas forces almost

annihilated the priest-soldiers. He gave Akechi Mitsuhide9, one of his vassals, rice fields in

Sakamoto at the foot of Mt. Hiei, and ordered him to build a castle there to prevent any

possible future rebellion by the priests. He defeated the combined forces of Asai and

Asakura in 1573, as described in tale 15.

Meanwhile, Shogun Yoshiaki was resentful after Nobunaga rebuked him forneglecting his duties, as is partially described in tale 17. With the assistance of Takeda

Shingen, lord of Kai Province, the Shogun attempted to get rid of Nobunaga. Nobunaga

besieged the mansion of the Shogun at Nij in Kyoto in 1573. Although a temporary peace

was concluded, Nobunaga finally drove Shogun Yoshiaki from Kyoto and became the virtual

ruler of Japan.

Tales 21 and 22 involve the Battle of Nagashino10 in which the combined forces of

Nobunaga and Ieyasu defeated Takeda Katsuyori, son of Shingen, at Nagashino in 1575. In

7Asakura Yoshikage1533-73sided with Asai Nagamasa at the Battle of Anegawa and killed himself in 1573when under siege in Ichijogatani.8Asai Nagamasa(1545-1573): A son of Hisamasa. Nagamasa married Nobunagas sister, Oichinokata, anddefeated Rokkaku Yoshitaka and Sait Tatsuoki. Nagamasa then joined the Asakura and the monks of Mount Hiei in analliance against Nobunaga, and was defeated at the Battle of Anegawa in 1570. [N: 15] A truce was concluded, buthostilities broke out again in 1573 when Nobunaga besieged him in Odani. Finally Nagamasa entrusted his family to

Nobunaga and committed suicide. His eldest daughter, Yodogimi (Lady Yodo), married Hideyoshi, and the second daughter

married Kygoku Takatsugu. The third daughter married Tokugawa Hidetada and was the mother of the third TokugawaShogun, Iemitsu. For the Asai and the Asakura, see, Suzuki, pp.64-67.9Akechi Mitsuhide(1526-82): Mitsuhide began to serve Nobunaga in 1566, and received the fief of Sakamoto inmi Province in 1571. In 1582 he attacked Nobunaga at the Honnji Temple in Kyoto. With Nobunaga dead, Mitsuhideassumed the reins of government for thirteen days, but was soon defeated by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamasaki.

10Nagashino is at the concourse of the Kansa and Ure Rivers in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture where the alliedforce of Nobunaga and Ieyasu defeated TakedaKatsuyoriby using new weapons, arquebuses, in 1575.For the

battle, see Berry, p. 62,


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1576, Nobunaga ordered Niwa Nagahide, lord of Wakayama Castle, to build a fine castle at

Azuchi. In Kyoto, he had Nij Castle built for himself. It was later donated to the Imperial

Court11. Before this, priest-soldiers in Kaga Province were brought under control and those

in Saiga in Kii Province swore allegiance to Nobunaga. Tale 26 introduces an interesting

episode about Nobunaga and the Negoro monks12 in Kii Province.

As narrated in tale 25, Nobunaga defeated Matsunaga Hisahide by burning his Shiki

Castle, and destroyed the Hatano in Tanba Province. The Court made him Minister of the

Right in 1576. Nobunaga ordered Kyoto townsmen to build walls for the Imperial Palace.He commissioned Toyotomi Hideyoshi to subjugate the Mri in the Chgoku Area and

Shibata Katsuie to control the Hokuriku Area along the Sea of Japan.

When Ieyasu visited Nobunaga at Azuchi Castle in 1582, Nobunaga made Akechi

Mitsuhide head of the reception committee. Dissatisfied with Mitsuhides preparations for

the reception, Nobunaga relieved him of the task and ordered him to participate in the

Chgoku campaign. Mitsuhide, chagrined, threw all the food and utensils he had prepared for

entertaining Ieyasu into the castle moat and returned to Sakamoto. On the following day,

May 29, Nobunaga started from Azuchi with his son Nobutada to assist Hideyoshi in

Chgoku. He entered Kyoto and put up at the Honnji Temple. On June 1, Mitsuhide started

for Kyoto from Sakamoto with his troops. When they came to the Katsura River near Kyoto,

11For the relation between Nobunaga and the Imperial court, see, Wakita, pp.39-60.12Warrior-monks of the Negoroji Temple of Kii Province who excelled in military arts including the knowledge ofnewly imported gunssee Berry, p.252n26, and fought against the Kongbuji Temple, the main headquarters of theShingon Sect of Mount Koya. Popularly called the Negorosh (Negoro People), they numbered 8,000 to 10,000. Duringthe years of Nobunagas rise to power, these monk-soldiers of the Negoroji achieved their own reputation for skill in the useof firearms. The Negoro Monks fought against Nobunaga in the Battle of Ishiyama Honganji. Later together with the Saiga,the Negoro Monks fought against Hideyoshi who burnt their temple in 1585. In the Edo Period, many of them were hired byvarious daimyo for their knowledge of gunnery. For the warrior priests and the Ikk-ikki revolts, see Suzuki,


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he made the famous declaration to his men, Our enemy is in the Honnji Temple!

On June 2, Mitsuhides troops surrounded the temple. Nobunaga fought with bow

and arrows and spears, and finally killed himself in a blazing temple room. Thus Nobunaga

ended his life abruptly without succeeding in his ambition to unify Japan.13

Not only a genius in military tactics, Nobunaga was an a statesman as he explains in

The Way of a Great General by criticizing his inferior son, Nobutada, in tale 32. (Just as if

he had apprehended his sons lack of ingenuity as a great general, Nobunaga, in his tale,

criticized his son who could not help him at the critical moments of his death).His fair way of governing a province is well described in tale 20.14 Though no

idealist, he was farsighted enough to envision distant future developments. He knew that

Emperor worship was the best guiding principle for national unification and always upheld

the contemporary Emperor as is shown in tale 13. His strong effort to restore peace in the

chaotic capital where the Emperor resided is depicted in tale 28.

He adopted the policy of protecting Christians to check the growth of Buddhism,

and tales 16 and 30 narrate his strong antagonism toward the traditional Buddhist

establishment. In economic affairs, he encouraged free market practices in preference to the

system ofza (guilds). He told Shibata Katsuie15 not to collect taxes from barriers and

marketplaces in tale 20. His Azuchi Castle illustrates an epoch in castle planning and

architecture in Japan. The many paintings and art objects in the castle were specimens

pp.107-122.13For Nobunagas last moments in the Honnji Temple called Honnji no hen, see Wakita, pp.167-71, andSuzuki, pp.172-184.-14 For Nobunagas economic and governing policies in rural and urban areas, see Wakita , pp.82-125.15Shibata Katsuie (1530-83): A loyal follower of Nobunaga. In 1570 Katsuie was entrusted with the defense ofChkji Castle. He remained loyal to the Oda Family after the Toyotomi takeover, but his army under Sakuma was defeated


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heralding the gorgeous Momoyama Epoch.

His moralistic views, including his appreciation of filial piety, are related in tale 25

in which he protects the honor of his enemys son. Tale 24 narrates Nobunagas clever use of

psychology by stimulating the human foibles, greed and desire, of the enemy general, Kageie,

who was finally led to his destruction.

Hideyoshi criticized Nobunagas personality in tale 20 of Hideyoshi, saying, . . .

Once someone was against him, he would never forget nor forgive, and attacked to extinction

all their relations. . .That was the cause of Akechi Mitsuhide

revolt against him. Thisobservation tersely reflects Nobunagas harsh and quick-tempered character as revealed in

the popular saying about a cuckoo, I will kill the cuckoo if it does not sing.

Although he ended his life without attaining his ambition of unifying Japan, his

successor, Hideyoshi accomplished this because he took over where Nobunaga left off.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi:

A brilliant strategist and shrewd politician, Hideyoshi finally completed the

unification of Japan begun by his master, Nobunaga. At birth, Hideyoshi was called

Hiyoshimaru. Later his name was changed to Tkichir, the family name being Kinoshita.

In 1558, on entering Nobunagas service, he was called Kochiku; in 1562, he changed his

family name, Kinoshita, to Hashiba. In 1585 he was appointed Imperial Regent (kanpaku);

in 1587 he was appointed grand minister of state and was given the family name Toyotomi.

Hideyoshi is popularly known as Taik, the honorary title for a retired kanpaku.

Hideyoshi was born in 1537 (or 1536) at Nakamura in Owari Province, the son of

at Shizugatake. Katsuie withdrew to Kitanosh of Echizen Province and killed himself.


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Kinoshita Yaemon, a foot soldier in the service of Oda Nobuhide , the father of Nobunaga.

Tales 1 and 2 tell of his youthful life until he met Nobunaga. In 1558, Hideyoshi presented

himself to Nobunaga, who quickly took a liking to him as described in tale 3 and nicknamed

him Saru, Monkey, as told in tale 6.

At the time, in the struggle for military hegemony, the army of Imagawa

Yoshimoto16, lord of Mikawa, Ttmi, and Suruga Provinces, was advancing on Kyoto. But

in his path lay the lands of Nobunaga, who defeated him in the battle of Okehazama in

1560.

17

By mid-1573 Nobunaga was firmly established in central Honshu, having destroyedhis brother-in-law, Asai Nagamasa (whose daughter, Yodogimi, was to become Hideyoshis

favorite concubine), and his erstwhile ally, Asakura Yoshikage. The Asai lands in mi

Province were given to Hideyoshi. Tale 10 tells of Hideyoshis clever tactic in a rearguard

action to assist Nobunaga at the Battle of Anegawa (also see tale 16 of Nobunaga).

In 1575 Nobunaga was defeated in a naval battle in the Bay of Osaka by the

combined forces of Mri Terumoto and the temple-fortress of Nishiyama Honganji.

Nobunaga retaliated by dispatching two armies, including one led by Hideyoshi, in a pincer

movement aimed at subduing the Mri home base in western Honshu. Hideyoshi took

Himeyama Castle in 1577, the fortress of Tottori in Inaba Province in 1581, and Takamatsu

Castle in Bitch Province in 1582 by employing the novel tactic of flooding.

After Nobunaga was treacherously eliminated by Akechi Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi

16Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-60)was defeated by Oda Nobuhide (Nobunagas father) at Azukizaka in1542, but still controlled Mikawa, Ttmi, and Owari Provinces. In 1560 he moved into Owari Province, where he met thesmall force of Nobunaga at the decisive Battle of Okehazama, and was killed.17Okehazama is in the north of Chita District of Owari Province (present Arimatsu in Midori-ku, Nagoya City)where Nobunaga destroyed Imagawa Yoshimoto by a sudden attack in 1560.For the Battle of Okehaama, see Wakita, pp.15-19


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defeated Akechi in the Battle of Yamazaki on July 2, 1582. Hideyoshi at 45 became master

of mi, Harima, Yamashiro, Tanba, and Kawachi Provinces. Then, by defeating Shibata

Katsuie at Shizugatake (refer to tales 22 and 23), he annexed Echizen , Kaga, Noto, and

Etch.

In 1584, after the Komaki-Nagakute campaign (refer to tale 26), he arrived at a

settlement with Ieyasu, who had supported Oda Nobukatsu , Nobunagas son. Tale 28 tells

how Hideyoshi finally met Ieyasu in the capital. He then subdued all of Kii Province and

destroyed the Buddhist organization of the Jdo-shin sect (Ikk-ikki revolt) of Saiga

18

in that

province. He proceeded to conquer the Chsogabe Family of Shikoku. By the end of 1585,

Hideyoshi, newly appointed kampaku, or Imperial Regent, could lay claim to all civil and

military powers by authorization of the Emperor. In 1587 he extended his power in Kyushu,

thwarting the aior class. Hideyombitions of the Shimazu family as described in tales 30 and

31.

On July 23, 1587, Hideyoshi issued an eleven-point edict denouncing Christianity

and prohibiting forced conversion to that religion.19 In 1588 he carried out his famous sword

hunt.20 This reduced the likelihood of armed rebellion and separated the peasantry from the

warrshis conquest of the northeast remained was barred by the Hj Family, who occupied

the Kanto region. In 1590, Hideyoshi destroyed the allies of the Hj and besieged and

forced the opening of Odawara Castle.

Odawara Castle capitulated on 12 August, 1590, and the Kanto Provinces were

18For controlling the Ikk-ikki revolts by Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, see Suzuki, pp.30-3519For Hideyoshis policy against the Christians, see Owada, pp.137-142.20For the sword hunting; see Suzuki, pp.101-107., see Owada, pp. 142-146.


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reorganized. Tales 33 through 37 involve the incidents that occurred during Hideyoshis

attack on Odawara Castle. To remove Ieyasu from central Japan, Hideyoshi gave him the six

Kanto Provinces in exchange for his former holdings in Mikawa, Ttmi and Suruga as

described in tale 38. In 1591, Hideyoshi crushed all resistance in the far north of Honshu.

The military unification of Japan was now complete; all territory belonged to

Hideyoshi or to his vassals and a new feudal hierarchy had been established. His power is

described in tale 43 in which Hideyoshi said about his escaped crane, . . .I may have him

back someday, since everything in this country is within my reach. Also in the same tale, hesaid, There may be someone in the world who betrays me, but no one will defeat me.

Once master of Japan, Hideyoshi in 1592 launched his first expedition to conquer Korea21, as

seen in tale 42. The second expedition was abandoned after his death in 1598.

In his last years, especially after 1593, he seemed almost to have lost touch with

reality around him. Two years earlier, his son, Tsurumaru, had died, and Hideyoshi had

nominated his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, as his heir. After he had another son, Hideyori,

he became convinced that Hidetsugu was plotting against him and ordered Hidetsugu to

commit suicide. Tale 41 narrates how Hideyoshi despised Hidetsugu and called him a typical

fool. Eventually during 1595, Hidetsugus wife, consorts, and children, a total of thirty

people were killed. Hideyoshi did this so that his two-year-old son Hideyori could become

his unrivaled heir. Anxious for the future of his son, now his successor, he created a council

of Five Great Elders (Gotair) and made them swear allegiance to Hideyori. Tale 50 gives us

21For Hideyoshis Korean invasion; see Berry, pp. 207-217; Suzuki, pp.157-201: and for the effect on his government afterthe invasion, see Owada, pp.152-175.


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a glimpse of Hideyoshis private life with his beloved young son, Hideyori.

Hideyoshi also became increasingly fearful of Western interference in Japans

internal affairs, especially after the Spanish ship San Felipwas shipwrecked on the Japanese

coast in 1596.22 Further irritated by the continuous bickering between the Jesuits and the

Franciscans, Hideyoshi sentenced to death twenty-six Christians, the Twenty Six Martyrs of

Nagasaki. Hideyoshi fell ill in the summer of 1598 and died on September 18,1598.

His private letters23 show him to have been open and affectionate, genial, and

impatient with formality. He even showed atypical generosity toward his enemies asdescribed in tales 14 and 20. His generosity in tales 50 and 52 is contrasted with Ieyasus

stinginess in Ieyasu's tales 66 and 67. In tale 51, Tentokuji says Hideyoshi was much more

warm and open-hearted than his rivals, Shingen and Kenshin.24 Tale 9 concludes, . . .many

heroic men wished to work under Hideyoshi. Such popularity and generosity helped make

him able to unify all Japan.

Despite his grandiose plans for conquest abroad depicted in tale 12 and the

megalomania of the last few years of his life revealed in tale 43, he is one of the great figures

in Japanese history. His scheming, ingenuity, and cleverness in obtaining what he wanted are

revealed in tales 4, 6, 7, 26, and 27. With all these superior qualities, it was certainly possible

for him to make a cuckoo sing as the famous quotation says, I will make the cuckoo sing.

Tokugawa Ieyasu:

22In 1596 a Spanish ship, the San Felipe drifted to Urado of Tosa Province ( Kchi Prefecture). Hideyoshi confiscated thecargo. Because of the slanderous remarks of the Portuguese in Japan, Hideyoshi suspected a future Spanish invasion ofJapan, and prohibited Christianity. The death of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Nagasaki in 1597 was a result.

23For the English translation of Hideyoshis 101 letters, see Boscaro, pp.1-86.24For Shingen and Kenshin in the Battle of Kawanakajima, see Sasamoto, pp.58-76.


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Tokugawa Ieyasu , outwitting many major contemporaries and outliving the rest,

inherited what was left by Hideyoshi. He established the Tokugawa Shogunate to maintain

peace in unified Japan.

Born Matsudaira Takechiyo in small Okazaki Castle in Mikawa Province, he was

the first son of Matsudaira Hirotada. His mother, known to posterity as Odainokata, was the

daughter of a neighboring warrior leader, Mizuno Tadamasa, of Kariya in Mikawa. Ieyasu

spent his youth first as a captive of his fathers enemy, the Oda Family, and then as a hostage

to his fathers eastern ally, the Imagawa, as described in tales 1 and 2 of Ieyasu. During thistime he took the personal names Motonobu and then Motoyasu.25

In 1561 Ieyasu, having recently gained independence from the Imagawa and taken

control of his fathers domains, abandoned his alliance with the Imagawa, allying himself

with Oda Nobunaga. Tale 3 tells how Nobunaga was impressed with Ieyasu who tried to

defend taka Castle. This action secured Ieyasus western flank, and by 1568 his eastward

expansion had made him master of Mikawa and Ttmi Provinces. He had also changed his

personal name to Ieyasu and had been permitted by Imperial order to substitute for

Matsudaira the more ancient family name of Tokugawa.

In 1570 at Anegawa26 near Lake Biwa, the Oda and Tokugawa forces combined to

destroy two local warrior houses, the Asai and Asakura, in a decisive battle described in tale

15 of Nobunaga. From 1572 to 1582 Ieyasu gradually expanded his territorial grasp, fighting

much of the time against the Takeda Family as told in tales 5 through 8. In 1572 the

25Forthe young Ieyasu and Imagawa Yoshimotosee, Kitajima, 16-23.26

Battle of Anegawa : In 1570 Nobunaga fought against Asai and Asakura by the Anegawa River in miProvince. Thanks to the assistance of Ieyasu, Nobunaga had a victory which caused the decline of Asai and Asakura. For the


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redoubtable Takeda Shingens son Katsuyori gave Ieyasu the worst defeat of his career. But

successive battles at Nagashino in 1575 and Takatenjin in 1581 drove the Takeda back,

leaving Ieyasu master of Mikawa, Ttmi, and Suruga Provinces. Tales 9 and 10 narrate the

Battle of Nagashino and the fall of the Takeda.

In 1579 Ieyasu was obliged to put his wife (who was from an Imagawa vassal

family) to death and force his firstborn son to commit suicide to reassure Nobunaga of his

own loyalty.27 Both were suspected by Nobunaga of having colluded with the Takeda.

Ieyasu reacted to the turmoil after Nobunagas death in 1582 by making himself master of theTakeda heartland, Kai and Shinano Provinces, which gave him an important position among

the contending factions in central Japan.

His relations with Nobunagas successor, Hideyoshi, began inauspiciously. In 1583

Ieyasu rejected several overtures from Hideyoshi (refer to tales 26, 28, and 29 of Hideyoshi),

and in 1584 Hideyoshi attacked a Tokugawa fortress on Mt. Komaki (refer to tale 26 of

Hideyoshi). Tales 12 and 14 relate the Battle of Nagakute in which Ieyasu and Oda

Nobukatsu as allies defeated the army of Hideyoshi. Both Ieyasu and Hideyoshi then

decided to agree upon an alliance. Therefore, in 1584, Ieyasu sent a son to Hideyoshi for

adoption, receiving in return two years later Hideyoshis forty-three-year-old sister, specially

divorced so that she might marry him. In 1590 the two men joined forces to attack the great

Kanto chieftain, Hj Ujimasa28, in his Odawara Castle. Tales 18 through 20 introduce

battle, see Fukuda, pp.50-62.27 For the death of his wife, Lady Tukiyama, and his son, see, Takigawa, pp.76-90.28Hj Ujimasa, popularly known by his Buddhist name, Sun (1538-1590): The eldest son of Ujiyasu.The Hj had held a large domain in the northeastern Kanto Area of Japan, and had been a menace to the lords of the central

parts of Japan, including Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. In those days, a powerful lord like Hj coming to greet Hideyoshimeant his submission to Hideyoshi. Ujimasa committed suicide when his Odawara Castle was attacked by


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episodes related to the campaign of attacking Odawara Castle.

By overthrowing the Hj at Odawara Castle in 1590 (refer to tale 33 of Hideyoshi

and tale 18 of Ieyasu), Hideyoshi won a degree of control in eastern Japan unrivaled since the

Kamakura Period. Ieyasu was required to surrender his five provinces, including Mikawa,

his native province, and move to a new domain comprising Musashi, Izu, Sagami, Kazusa,

and Shimsa and Shimotsuke Provinces. His unfamiliarity with the new domain was a

strategic, administrative, and probably fiscal disadvantage, but it was geographically more

unified than his former holdings. As headquarters, Ieyasu chose Edo, a little fishing town onthe edge of what is now Tokyo Bay (described in tale 20).

In 1592, Hideyoshi began his invasion of Korea., an enterprise that consumed the

remainder of his life and the resources of those warrior-leaders forced to take part. Ieyasu

was able to preserve his own resources by maintaining a comfortable distance from this

campaign. Shortly before Hideyoshi died in 1598, he made his senior generals, including

Ieyasu, swear to faithfully serve his son, Hideyori. Within two years Ieyasu broke that

promise, forming alliances with four powerful warrior families. In response, Ishida

Mitsunari, one of Hideyoshis vassals, armed with promises of support from several families,

declared war against him in 1600.

On October 21, 1600, Ieyasu led an army of 104,000 men into battle at Sekigahara29

and won a victory. In relation to his victory, tale 22 narrates: When Hideyoshi ordered

Kobayakawa Hideaki to transfer to Echizen Province, Ieyasu interceded for Hideaki so that

Hideyoshi.For attacking Odawara Casle and Ieyasus control of the area, see Kitajima, pp. 67-89; and for his insight andeconomic control of the Odawara and the Kan area, seeYamamoto,pp.99-102.29For the Battle of Sekigahara, see Asano, pp.146-159, and after the battle, see Niki, pp. 160-172.


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Hideyoshi finally withdrew his order. The grateful Hideaki, as if to show his appreciation to

Ieyasu, deserted his ally, Ishida Mitsunari, at a crucial point in the Battle of Sekigahara. His

defection brought Ieyasu a great victory.

Tales 27 through 31 describe the Battle of Sekigahara and how Ieyasu dealt with the

defeated. As a result, Ieyasu assumed a great many of Hideyoshis powers, establishing his

control over the city of Kyoto (and hence over the Emperor), and claiming authority over all

Japanese daimyo.

After 1600, Ieyasu was the most powerful warrior leader in Japan. In 1603 heassumed the ancient title of Seiitaishgun ,Barbarian Quelling Generalissimo with the

assent of Emperor Goyzei. Since then he and his descendants, like their predecessors of the

Minamoto and Ashikaga Families, were entitled to speak for the Emperor on national affairs.

The Shogun, as commander-in-chief of the entire samurai class, would be obeyed by all

military lords and their vassals.

In 1605 Ieyasu, then 63, resigned from the office Seiitaishgun in favor of his third

son, Hidetada, and two years later he retired to Sunpu. Although retired, Ieyasu by no means

relinquished his authority, especially in foreign affairs.

Above all, Ieyasu was concerned about Japans internal strategic balance, since the

Tokugawa were dependent upon other warriors who could withdraw their support at any time.

Discontent with the Tokugawa Shogunate inevitably gathered around Hideyoshis son,

Hideyori. In the winter of 1614, Ieyasu attacked Osaka Castle, Hideyoris fortress, but failed.

In the following spring (May of 1615) he finally took it as described in tales 32 and 35.

Hideyori chose to commit suicide, and his seven-year-old son, Kunimatsu, was beheaded.


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After the fall of Osaka Castle and the destruction of the Toyotomi House, Ieyasus

major accomplishment was having his advisers draw up two basic documents of early

Tokugawa legislation. The Bukeshohatto (Laws for Military Houses) and the

Kinch-narabini-Kugeshohatto (Laws Governing the Imperial Court and Nobility) were

both issued in 1615. Ieyasu died on June 1, 1616. Tale 73 describes his wish for a simple

mausoleum. A year later his remains were moved to Nikk, where by Imperial decree he was

canonized under the title of Tsh Daigongen, a manifestation of the Buddha as healer.

Luck was an important factor in Ieyasus success as was his patience andenduranc30e depicted in various tales and anecdotes. He outlived his great contemporaries,

Nobunaga, and Hideyoshi, and was survived by five sons, four of whom became entrenched

in powerful positions. His achievements by the time of his death had brought peace, and had

provided a succession stable enough to remain over two hundred and sixty years. Other

contemporaries could perhaps have achieved as much, but no one could have done more.

Retrospectively, as we review these tales in Shogun and Warlords, even if Nobunaga

had lived longer, attainment of his goal, unification of Japan, would have been difficult

because his cold and severe characteristics described by Hideyoshi caused antagonistic

feelings among the lords. Soon or later someone like Akechi Mitsuhide would have rebelled

and destroyed him.

By contrast, Hideyoshis generous and relaxed personality and natural talents

discernible in various tales enabled him to unify the country. However, most unfortunately,

because of his low birth without any traditional subjects and capable relatives to support and

30For Ieyasus last moments and his funeral, see Urai, pp. 223-235.


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succeed him, his glory lasted only one generation, his own.

On the other hand, Ieyasu was blessed with faithful subjects, the so-called Mikawa

Samurai, who had served his clan, the Tokugawa, for generations and were willing to die for

him.31 Ieyasu cherished them so much, as described in tale 46, that he was able to establish

the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Popularly called Tanuki-jijii, or old badger, Ieyasu was famous for sagacious and

cunning characteristics that enabled him to survive through hardships experienced in his

young days. He changed sides readily from the Imagawa to the Oda and then to the Toyotomi,whom he finally destroyed to establish his own hegemony. His shrewd and unscrupulous

techniques are tersely described in tales 32 through 35, which tell for example, how he

tricked Lady Yodo and her son Hideyori, the heir of Hideyoshi, into filling the moats of

Osaka Castle32.

Ieyasu also is famous for saying, Ones life is like trudging ones way step by step

carrying a heavy load on ones back. The qualities of endurance and perseverance are often

associated with Ieyasu, especially in tales 64 to 67. And among all the traits revealed in these

tales, patience should be particularly emphasized, as described in tale 18, which narrates

how Ieyasu stopped his men from attacking Hideyoshi, saying, . . . An attempt to take him

now would be a hasty action, which would only reveal our fear of him. If we wait, our time

will come in due course. The tale clearly reflects Ieyasus patience in terms of a cuckoo,

I will wait until the cuckoo sings.

31For the relation of the Tokugawa and Mikawa samurai in relation to the Mikawa Ikk-ikki revolt, see Shingyo, pp.38-49.32 Campaigns of Osaka, Winter and Summer: In November of 1614 Ieyasu attacked Osaka Castlewhere Lady Yodo and her son, Hideyori, resided. During the temporary truce, Ieyasu filled the outer and inner


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Lastly, a brief personal history of the author, Okanoya Shigezane, should be added.

He was born in 1835 as a son of Okanoya Shigemasa, who served Lord Akimoto of the

Tatebayashi Clan. From the time of his youth, Shigezane was trained in learning and military

arts. He excelled in classical Chinese studies, and was recognized by Lord Akimoto, who

promoted him to be an official messenger when he was nineteen in 1853.

Later, however, Shigezane was unfortunately involved in a political conflict of his

lord who had sided with the Chsh faction against the Tokugawa Shogunate. Eventually, he

became a scapegoat assuming all the blame against his lord for himself as the Chsh officialmessenger and was expelled from Chsh by the Shogunate. During his confinement in the

mansion of Konoe in Kyoto, he continued to work on his book as he states in the latter part of

his introduction, In these confused circumstances, I was expelled and have been wandering,

traveling, and confined. Physically and mentally exhausted, unable to think of anything but

surviving, I have been trying to finish my work at whatever cost. No matter how difficult and

precarious my situation, there was no occasion when I gave up the idea of writing this

book.33

His statement in his introduction clearly shows his strong belief in his work. He was

able to resist and survive pressure thanks to his firm resolution and belief in his lifetime work,

the compilation ofThe Records of theSayings and Conduct of FamousLords. In other words,

these distinguished lords conduct and sayings and their valorous life styles must have

encouraged and enlightened him as he endured his own hardships. In that sense, working on

moats of Osaka Castle, violating his word. The enraged Hideyori with his vassals challenged Ieyasu in the following May,and committed suicide as the castle fell. For the campaigns and the fall of the Toyotomi, see Takahashi, pp.187-21033

Okanoya, p. 24.


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this voluminous work was truly the test of his life. Okanoya Shigezane passed away on the

ninth of December, 1919 at age eighty-five.

There may be some factual discrepancies in Shigezanes tales, but some facts may

have been distorted in the course of transmission. And readers should have the boldness of

Nobunaga in appreciating these tales just as Hideyoshi and Ieyasu showed their generosity

and patience in dealing with their men. After all, just as Herodotus in ancient times, jotted

down things he saw and heard about and called them, collectively, history, our Japanese

author, Shigezane, collected what impressed him in actions and sayings of famous lords.Today, we still see in his writing the values which the Japanese have cherished as the

samurai spirit, an old-fashioned yet quite charismatic trait which we see in the Way ofKarate

and Jd. Such values are likewise discernible in old American films, includingBuffalo

Bills Wild West, and some new ones, such as Star Wars, in which the protagonists assume

hero images, the most valorous universal images, the very ones that all those past samurai

and their warlords had cultivated throughout their lives as is succinctly depicted in the 164

tales of Shogun and Warlords.

The translators, Andrew H. Dykstra was Provost Emeritus of the Kansaigaidai

Hawaii College, Hawaii, and Yoshiko K. Dykstra, Professor of the Kansaigaidai University,

Osaka, Japan


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The Translation of the Stories

of

Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu

from the

Meishgenkroku


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Story Titles:

Oda Nobunaga

1. A Stone-Throwing Game 2. A Small Snake 3. His Extraordinary Appearance 4. TheSuicide of Masahide 5. An Interview with Hidetatsu 6. The Elders Defect 7. YoshitatsuKills His Father 8. An Old Vassal Defects 9. An Attack on the Imagawa 10. An Attempt toAssassinate Nobunaga 11. Making Peace with Ieyasu 12. A Marriage Proposal 13. GoingUp to the Capital 14. A Man Fit for the Position 15. The Battle of Anegawa 16. BurningMount Hiei 17. Crossing the Uji River 18. A Pair of Short Thongs 19. A Remonstrance 20.Advice on Governing Provinces 21. The Battle of Nagashino 22. Plucked Larks 23. AMan of Mino 24. Sending Tiger Skins 25. Attacking Matsunaga 26. The Wearing of aHelmet 27. The Size of the Army 28. An Execution for a Penny 29. A Fair Judgment 30.

Executing Monk Muhen 31. A Reply to Terutora 32. The Way of a Great General 33.Remembering Masahide

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

1. Childhood 2. Serving under Yukitsuna 3. Serving Nobunaga as a Sandal-Bearer 4.Tangerine Peels 5. A Mounted Samurai 6. The Wall of Kiyosu Castle 7. ExtraordinaryPatience 8. Realizing Ones Wish 9. Releasing a Captive 10. A Rearguard 11. Saving theShogun 12. The Red Umbrella 13. Opening an Escape Route 14. A Short Sword 15. MikiCastle 16. Mitsuhides Plot 17. Regretting Katsuyori 18. Buying Rice at a High Price 19.A Fort Built Overnight 20. The Cause of Mitsuhides Revolt 21. Brainy Generals 22. The

Battle of Shizugatake 23. A Way to Feed Fifty Thousand Men 24. A Lifetime Vassal 25. APlot Against Nobukatsu 26. A Major Scheme Ignores Minor Defects 27. A SecretDiscussion Leaked 28. Meeting Ieyasu in the Capital 29. AJinbaori Surcoat 30. Puttingup Signboards 31. A Tea Container 32. The Shaven-Headed Yoshihisa 33. ConqueringOdawara Castle 34. A Letter to the Dragon Palace 35. Manners in Dismounting 36. TardyMasamune 37. The Quantity and Quality of the Heads 38. Placing Ieyasu in Edo 39.Wagtail Seals 40. Exorcism of an Evil Spirit 41. A Typical Fool 42. The Expedition toKorea 43. An Escaped Crane 44. Being Off Guard 45. The Flower-Viewing Party at Daigo46. A Yodo River Flood 47. Strong Trust in Toshiie 48. TheRnin in Mount Kya 49. TheCelebration of New Years Day in Osaka Castle 50. Taking One of a Hundred Coins 51.Comparing Shingen, Kenshin, and Hideyoshi 52. The Great Purse 53. A Hundred Times

More Merits 54. Identifying the Owners of the Five Swords 55. Mushrooms 56. RiceGruel and Echizen Cotton 57. Instructions to His Close Subjects 58. His Will

Tokugawa Ieyasu

1. Childhood 2. Coming of Age 3. Sending Rations to Osaka Castle 4. The Rearguard of


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Ichinomiya 5. The Battle of Mikatagahara 6. A Boy Assassin 7. Holding a Castle byLowering the Drawbridge 8. Shingens Death 9. The Battle of Nagashino 10. The Fall ofTakeda 11. Assisting Nobukatsu 12. The Battle of Nagakute 13. Mutual Admiration 14.

Reviewing the Battle of Nagakute 15. A General Does Not Reveal His Scheme 16.Adoption of the Shingen Style of Military Arts 17. Going Up to the Capital 18. AttackingOdawara Castle 19. Expert Horsemanship 20. Entering Edo Castle 21. The Order ofGoing into Battle 22. Securing Hideakis Domain 23. A War Cry 24. Questions onAttacking a Castle 25. Departing for the Kanto Area 26. Caring for the Hawks 27. TheBattle of Sekigahara 28. The Ishida Men 29. The Chief of the Beggars 30. Dealing withthe Defeated 31. Unifying the Country 32. The Osaka Winter Campaign 33. Forging ThreeLetters 34. Impressing the Mother 35. Filling the Moats 36. No Moorings in Osaka 37. LetThem Burn Their Bridge 38. The Retreat Route 39. A Stupid Plan for Attacking a Castle 40.Treating the Defeated Generously 41. A Request from Nobunaga 42. Dismounting for HisRetainers 43. Loose Arrowheads 44. Advisers and Remonstrations 45. More Important

than the First Spear Breaking the Enemy Line 46. His Most Precious Treasures 47. The Wayof Employment 48. Dealing with the Brothels 49. The Official Heir 50. The Way ofRuling the Country 51. Rice in the Storehouses 52. The Way of Subjects 53. ObservingManners 54. Hunting During Peacetime 55. Eliminating Brothers 56. Reviewing the Battleof Kawanakajima 57. The Heike Soup 58. Law Enforcement 59. The Hood of a GoodFortune Deity 60. The Three Complaints of a Disciple 61. Ignoring Ones Lord 62. TheSigns of a Good Crop 63. No Starvation During the Famine 64. Peaches in Wintertime 65.Wheat-Rice Mix in the Summertime 66. How Stingy He Is! 67. Lecturing the Maids 68.Encouraging Learning 69. A Veteran of Campaigns 70. Hideyoshis Comment 71. APretended Fool 72. The Elders Concern 73. A Simple Mausoleum


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Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobunaga [1534-82],34 son of Nobuhide and Minister of the Right, lived in

Azuchi Castle controlling twenty-four provinces. He committed suicide at the age of

forty-nine during the attack by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1582, and was granted the posthumous

title of Junior First Rank.

[Oda Nobunaga from the Ehon Taikki ]

1 A Stone-ThrowingGame:

The young Nobunaga, called Kippshi, studied with forty or fifty children at a

temple of Kiyosu.35 In his youth, on the fifth of May [which is Boys Day], he used to love to

34Oda Nobunagabegan reunification of the country by defeating Imagawa Yoshimoto atOkehazamain in 1560, but his work was brought to an end by the betrayal of Akechi Mitsuhide in 1582.

35The town is in Nishikasugai District of Aichi Prefecture, and was the home base of Oda Nobunaga.


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play a stone-throwing game called injiuchi with other children who were divided into two

teams called East and West.

For the occasion, his mother used to send him gifts including writing brushes, ink

cakes, paper, three to36of rice and one kan37of Eiraku coins. Nobunaga gave the coins to the

children who did well in the game. Thus he gave away all his gifts to the children according

to their merits in the game, and did not keep any for himself Those who watched this were

all impressed, saying, This child will surely become a great lord and general.

2. A Small Snake:

Once, when young Nobunaga was playing in the yard, a small snake appeared.

Grasping it in his hand, Nobunaga asked one of his attendants, Do you call my action

brave? The attendant replied, You dont need to be afraid of such a small snake.

The young Nobunaga asked again, The size of the snake has nothing to do with its

poison. If you are not afraid of a snake because it is small, then do you disdain your lord if he

is young and small? At this, the attendant was most embarrassed.

3. His Extraordinary Appearance:

The bright and talented Nobunaga had great ambition. Since his youth, he had been

wild and brave. As he became older, he collected extraordinary people around him, and

enjoyed bold valorous actions while making quick and hasty decisions that ignored details.

He was always training his horses, learning how to use guns, bows, arrows, and

swimming. He had his attendants and retainers often fight with bamboo spears, saying

36One tis 18.039 liters.37One kan is 3.75 kilogramme.


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Longer ones are better, and used three-and-a-half-ken-long [21-foot] spears38.

In those days his appearance was most distinguished and extraordinary. Dressed in a

wide-sleeved robe with a short hakama skirt, he carried various things at his waist, including

a flint bag and a long sword in a red sheath. His topknot was bound by a cord with loose ends.

On the street, he walked leaning against someones shoulder while eating rice cake. Seeing

his wild appearance and bold manners, people in neighboring and distant places spoke of him

as Nobunaga, an incomparably great fool!

His father, Nobuhide,

39

passed away in 1549, and the funeral was held at theManshji Temple. Numerous people including Nobunaga and his younger brother, Kanjr

Nobuyuki,40 attended the funeral. Wearing no hakama skirt but a long-hafted sword which

was bound by a rough straw rope at his waist, Nobunaga, his hair as usual bound into a

topknot, advanced to the altar, grabbed a handful of incense, threw it at the tablet of his father,

and left.

All the witnesses praised his younger brother, Nobuyuki, who was formally dressed

in a ceremonial outfit with a hakama skirt and a wide-shouldered robe, and severely

criticized the older brother, Nobunaga, saying, A fool, as usual! Among them was a monk

from Kyushu. Only he praised Nobunaga, This man will surely possess and control the

38It is a remarkable coincidence that the twenty-one-foot length selected for the spears of his infantry by Philip of Macedon

was the same as that favored by Nobunaga in his tale. See Will DurantTheLife of Greece(Simon and Schuster), pp. 476-77.

39Oda Nobuhide (1510-51?): Nobuhide, the father of Nobunaga, distinguished himself inagainst the Sait and defeated the

Imagawa in 1542.

40Oda Nobuyuki (d.1557): Nobuyuki, the brother of Oda Nobunaga, held Suemori Castle in Owari Province. In 1557, hesided with Hayashi which Nobunaga perceived as treason. Nobunaga sent Ikeda Nobuteru to besiege Suemori Castle andkill Nobuyuki.


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country some day! he declared.

4. The Suicide of Masahide:

Because of Nobunagas vulgar behavior, his councilor, Hirate Masahide,41 who

had been responsible for Nobunagas upbringing since his youth, was most distressed, and

often vainly admonished him. Finally, to teach Nobunaga a lesson at the cost of his own life,

Masahide committed suicide on the thirteenth of January in 1553.

The shocked Nobunaga confined himself in a room, where he grieved greatly and

lamented the death of Masahide with chagrin and regret. After the death, Nobunaga built theSeishji Temple on Masahides domain, and visited there on every anniversary, saying, No

use to grieve. I will compensate by my good deeds, and accumulate great merits in the eyes

of the world. After that, Nobunaga concentrated on military affairs as he strengthened his

defenses against the neighboring provinces.

5. An Interview with Dsan:

Nobunaga was to marry a daughter of the Governor of Yamashiro Province, Sait

Hidetatsu, also called by his priestly name, Dsan. 42 Before the marriage took place, Dsan,

who had heard of the notorious Nobunaga, sent him a message saying that he would like to

see him at the Shtokuji Temple and set a date for the interview.

When the day arrived, over seven hundred of Dsans men dressed in traditional

formal attire were standing in a row before the temple. Dsan was secretly watching

Nobunaga from a small rented house at the end of the town.

41Hirate Masahide (1492-1553): An old councilor or elder of Nobunaga who committed suicide to restrainNobunaga .


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Nobunaga looked more extraordinary than usual on that occasion.With his hair in

a topknot, he appeared in a broad-sleeved hemp robe of bold design. At his waist, he wore a

sword in a gold- plated sheath. The haft was wound with a crude straw rope and he had a

thick cord looped and tied around his wrist. Flint bags and several gourds were dangling over

his short hakama skirt made of tiger skin. Mounted on a stout stallion, Nobunaga had a

vanguard of five hundred gunmen and archers who were carrying three-and-a-half-ken-long

spears, and had a rearguard of seven hundred young foot soldiers. All the spectators on the

roadside were surprised at this impressive procession.At the temple, Nobunaga disappeared behind a standing screen. Soon he reappeared

in a very conservative outfit: a long dark-brown hakama skirt, a slimmer refined sword at his

waist and a conventional hair style. Seeing this, the men of Dsan were amazed, saying to

each other,So his usual daily appearance has deceived us. We never knew his true

qualities.

When Nobunaga slowly and quietly walked along the corridor to the main hall,

Dsans old vassals and elders, Hotta Dk and Kasuga Tango, urged Nobunaga, saying,

Please, quickly come this way. Completely ignoring the elders, Nobunaga calmly passed

before many major vassals of the Sait Clan, and sat leaning against a pillar by the entrance

to the hall.

Now Dsan returned to the temple from the rented house, changed his clothes, and

advanced toward Nobunaga, who appeared disinterested.. Quickly, Dk came again,

whispering to Nobunaga, Here comes Lord Dsan. Is that so? asked Nobunaga as he

42See Note 4.


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finally stood up, entered the hall, greeted Dsan, and took his seat facing his host. Nobunaga

was most casual and refined.

At the interview, Nobunagas manners were very relaxed and discreet. After having

exchanged some sake cups, Nobunaga left after everything had been transacted so smoothly.

Surprised by his unexpectedly good manners, and rather confused, Dsan walked with him

for twenty blocks before he bade him farewell, saying, Let us meet again.

While everything thus went on smoothly with the Nobunaga party on that day, the

Hidetatsu men felt most deflated and frustrated as they left the temple, since their spears weretoo short to match the long lances of the Nobunaga foot soldiers.

After Nobunaga left, Inoko Hysuke asked Dsan, his lord, No matter how he

acted, Nobunaga appeared as a great fool to me. What do you think, sir? Thats it. You

shall see. I am afraid that someday my children will be hitching their horses to the pole of that

fools gateway. Its most unfortunate that I can see it even now, replied Dsan with tears in

his eyes. Nobunaga was only twenty years old at that time.

6. The Elders Defect:

Formerly, Nobunaga had always failed whenever he fought Sait Dsan to expand

his territory. Greatly disturbed,Nobunaga planned to alienate Dsans old elders, saying, I,

Nobunaga, am not an enemy of Lord Dsan. If I am allowed to marry Dsans daughter,

Nhime, I will serve and fight under his banner whenever he is in danger. [At the

recommendation of his elders], Dsan finally accepted Nobunagas marriage proposal for his

daughter.

Nearly a year had passed since Nobunaga married Nhime. At one time, Nobunaga


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stealthily left his bedchamber while his wife was sound asleep, and returned before daybreak.

His nocturnal outings lasted about a month, and finally his wife confronted him, saying, If

you have someone whom you are secretly seeing and exchanging your pledges, tell me

everything. I am not jealous at all. You have been acting very strange lately. Nhime

sounded as if she was blaming him. Nobunaga made an excuse, saying, Your suspicion is

quite natural, but there are no women involved. Yet I have a secret plan that no one should

know.

Another month passed, and his wife became more suspicious and pressed him withrepeated questions. Again Nobunaga tried to explain. Our marriage is not in jeopardy at all.

But sometimes one has to keep a secret. Otherwise my plan will fail. As I have said, I have

no problems with any women. But I feel quite bad that my keeping a secret has troubled you

so much.

Nhime replied, I have never thought that I would be so estranged from you like

this. It must be due to my womanly ignorance, and it is no use to complain. So why dont you

invite the woman with whom you are so deeply involved. I will leave and go wherever I

can. At her tearful lamentation, Nobunaga finally gave up, and began to confess.

Your father, Dsan, and I had been enemies for a long time. We have temporarily

made peace against my will. Now for sometime, I have communicated with your fathers

elders. They have agreed to let me know by lighting a signal at the Hour of the Ox [from

midnight to two oclock] when your father has been killed. I have been up for the past fifty to

sixty nights waiting for the signal, standing in the frost under the starlit sky. However, since

there is no signal so far, the councilors must have had no chances yet. At the signal, I will


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lead my army to attack and take over Mino Province. Now, you should never expose this

secret to anyone, nor even think about it.

Thus Nobunaga strictly warned his wife, and told his guards to watch her so that she

would not communicate with her father either by messenger or letter. Now he frequently sent

messages to the two elders, which began to raise suspicious rumors among the people. At the

same time, Nobunaga ordered his men to prepare for night attacks at anytime.

Meanwhile, Dsan heard rumors of Nobunagas movements from the spies he had

sent to Nobunagas Owari Province. While wondering about his spies reports, Dsan finallyreceived a letter from his daughter, who succeeded in finding a moment to send her message.

After reading the details in her letter, the infuriated Dsan immediately executed his two old

elders. Thus Nobunaga finally succeeded in weakening Dsans power, which declined

considerably after the death of his two elders.

7. Yoshitatsu Kills His Father:

In April of 1556, ignoring his eldest son, Sait Yoshitatsu,43 Dsan had supported

his younger son as his heir. Learning of his fathers intention, Yoshitatsu kidnapped his

younger brother, and killed him. Finally he fought against his father, Dsan, and also killed

him. At the news, Nobunaga led his army hoping to help Dsan, but failed and headed for

home. Yoshitatsu pursued Nobunaga, who was retreating in the rearguard.

Meanwhile, the castellan of the Iwakura Castle set up camp in Tanbarano with his

three thousand men to assist Yoshitatsu. Nobunaga had only eighty-three mounted men in

his rearguard. He immediately told the people in the town of Kiyosu to cut shafts of bamboo,

43Sait Yoshitatsu (1527-61): The son of Toki Yoshinari was adopted by Sait Dsan. When his father planned


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and had them array the bamboo spears behind his army. At this sight, the enemies assumed

that a great army was coming to aid Nobunaga, and retreated.

8. An Old Vassal Defects:

Plotting to destroy Imagawa Yoshimotin Suruga Province, Nobunaga first tried to

make Yoshimotos old vassal, Tobe Shinzaemon, defect. Tobe was an expert in calligraphy.

Nobunaga first obtained a specimen of Tobes writing. Tobe was then staying in Kasadera

Castle in Owari Province of Nobunaga. Nobunaga had his clerk study and imitate Tobes

writing until the clerk could write in exactly the same style as Tobe.Next, Nobunaga had his clerk write a letter addressed to Murai Shnosuke that

mentioned Tobes secret communication with Nobunaga. Meanwhile, Nobunaga sent one of

his men, Mori Yoshinari, to Yoshimotos Suruga Province where Mori wandered about as a

merchant. One day, Mori came to Asahina Shzabur, who bought a sword-guard from Mori.

When Asahina casually looked at the old paper wrapping, he saw a letter addressed to Murai

Shnosuke in Tobes handwriting.

The surprised Asahina asked Mori, Where did you get this old letter? Mori

replied, Last spring, I sold a sword-guard to a close retainer of Murai Shnosuke who gave

me his old sword-guard wrapped in this used piece of paper. With this old letter, Asahina

immediately reported to Yoshimoto. The enraged Yoshimoto thought of calling Tobe from

Kasadera to investigate, but soon changed his mind, saying, Never mind. He does not have

to come to Suruga, and had him killed in Yoshida. This incident eventually gave Nobunaga

a chance to attack Yoshimoto in Suruga Province.

to disinherit him, he fought and defeated him. Yoshitatsu died of leprosy.


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9. An Attack on the Imagawa:

After having attacked the castles in Marune and Washizu [in Nobunagas domain] in

May of 1560, Imagawa Yoshimoto took up a position, and set up his camp in Okehazama.

Nobunaga was going to fight by going out to Narumi. But his councilors advised him, saying,

Since the enemy has a greater army, to guard our Kiyosu Castle will be better. Ignoring his

councilors warning, Nobunaga held a feast before his departure, and entertained his men

with sake and food. While he was enjoying the kusemai dance and singing, he heard the

report that the enemy was approaching. Nobunaga repeatedly recited the verses:As one reflects on

The fifty years of ones life,

All seems a dream and an illusion

In this secular world.

As soon as he finished, Nobunaga, to the sound of blown conch shells, galloped out

with six mounted men leading two hundred foot soldiers to the Atsuta Shrine. While he

made his vows at the shrine, his foot soldiers finally caught up. When he left the shrine,

Nobunaga saw two white herons flying over his banner. This is the sign that the Great

Bright Deity of the Shrine is going to help us, said Nobunaga. He encouraged his men, and

advanced on his way.

From the Genday Shrine, Nobunaga saw black smoke rising from Marune and

Washizu in the east. He advanced straight on the eastern route to Kasahara since the tide was

rising on the coast. He gathered and collected more men at various forts on the way, and

arrived at the fortress of Nakashima.


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In a loud voice, Nobunaga said to his men, My plan is to attack Yoshimoto who

was still camping with his smaller army at Okehazama44 while his greater army is waiting

behind on the main route. If we attack the camp now from the mountainside, I am sure we

can take them! All his men were most excited at his idea, and stealthily headed to

Okehazama along the foothills [avoiding the main route].

Meanwhile, Yoshimoto and his men were enjoying a victory feast [in Marune and

Washizu]. Suddenly they were caught in a shower, which descended like a waterfall, and

could not hear the approaching sounds of Nobunagas men from the mountainside because ofthe violent winds and the rolling thunder. At the warcries of the Nobunagas men, the

confused Yoshimoto army failed to fight. After Mri Hidetaka decapitated Yoshimoto, the

Imagawa were completely lost. Around four oclock that afternoon, raising a shout of victory,

Nobunaga and his men returned to their town, Kiyosu, with 2500 enemy heads. After that,

Nobunagas valor became more widely known.

Before this battle, Nobunagas generals, including Shibata Katsuie and Ikeda

Nobuaki, had warned Nobunaga against fighting since the enemy had a greater army. Only

Yanada Masatsuna agreed with Nobunagas plan, saying, After having destroyed the two

castles of Marune and Washizu, the enemies have not yet moved their camp [in Okehazama].

Their greater army must be waiting somewhere behind. If we proceed now, we can surely

take them. So Nobunaga executed his plan and succeeded. Yanada was highly rewarded

with three thousand kan of land in Kutsukake Village while Mri Hidetaka, who had taken

44. Okehazama is in the north of Chita District of Owari Province (present Arimatsu in Midori-ku, Nagoya City) where

Nobunaga destroyed Imagawa Yoshimoto by a sudden attack in 1560.


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Yoshimotos head, received a lesser reward.

10. An Attempt to Assassinate Nobunaga:

To fulfill his enduring wish, Nobunaga finally decided to go up to the capital and

quietly started on his way, taking along eighty-some men. Avoiding traveling through the

enemy province of Mino [of Sait Yoshitatsu], Nobunaga and his party left Atsuta by boat

and landed at Kuwana of Ise from where they stealthily traveled through the Nara Area while

carefully studying and observing local geographic features. Nobunaga finally succeeded in

having an interview with Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru in the capital of Kyoto.At the news of Nobunagas trip to the capital, Sait Yoshitatsu immediately sent five

strong men to assassinate him. As soon as Nobunaga learned about Yoshitatsus plot, he sent

Kanamori Nagachika to the inn in Takoyakushi where the assassins were staying. Kanamori

told the assassins that since his lord, Nobunaga, had already learned about them, they should

meet and greet him. The five assassins were most amazed.

On the following day, the five men went to Ogawa where Nobunaga happened to

appear after having finished sightseeing. Nobunaga immediately said to the five assassins, I

hear that you have come all the way to the capital from Mino Province to assassinate me. I

admire your ambition. If you truly wish to attain your purpose, why not do it now? Quite

awestruck, the five assassins were most distressed as they replied, Such a project is utterly

unthinkable.

Four or five days later, Nobunaga went down to Moriyama. In spite of the great rain

at daybreak, he began his trip, passed over Yakaze Pass, walked a distance of seventeen ri

along the mountainside, and arrived at Kiyosu in one day. Hearing this, everyone in the


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capital and the local areas admired his valorous actions.

In 1561, Governor Akazawa of Kaga Province in Tanba sent two fine hawks as a gift.

The pleased Nobunaga returned the birds to Akazawa, saying, I appreciate your goodwill.

But now I am too much occupied with many things to enjoy hawking. I will receive your gift

after I have pacified all Japan. As expected, Nobunaga advanced to the capital to control all

Japan within ten years.

11. Making Peace with Ieyasu:

When Ieyasu came to Kiyosu, Nobunaga made peace with him, saying, While Itake care of the Five Areas,45 you will control the Suruga Area. The purpose of this pact is to

provide mutual assistance when we face strong enemies. If we cooperate, unifying and

controlling all Japan will not be difficult. However, there is one thing we should consider.

As you know, in old times, with an Imperial order, the two generals, Taira Kiyomori and

Minamoto Yoshitomo, pacified Japan.46 But later, the two fought and caused their decline.

This also happened between Nitta Yoshisada47 and Ashikaga Takauji.48 This is exactly what

is meant when they say the fall of the front cart will warn the following cart. Hereafter the

two of us should not fight, but work together. When I, Oda Nobunaga, become a general, you,

Tokugawa, will belong to us. There are no false words in this matter. They exchanged

promises and were said to be very pleased.

12. A Marriage Proposal:

45Five Areas or Kinki or Kinai: Five Areas refer to five provinces near the capital: Yamashiro including Kyoto, Yamatoincluding Nara, Kawachi, Izumi, and Settsu including Osaka.46 Both Kiyomori and Yoshitomo supported Emperor Goshirakawa and won the Battle of Hgen(1156).47Nitta Yoshisada (1301-38): Yoshisada supported Emperor Godaigo and captured Kamakura from the Hj in 1333.


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In November of 1570, Nobunaga sent a message to Takeda Harunobu49 proposing a

marriage between his son, Nobutada,50 and Harunobus seven-year-old daughter. All the

Takeda generals warned Harunobu, saying, Nobunaga seems to have great ambitions. Now

he is asking for a relationship with you, but we dont know what is in his mind. Its better to

refuse him.

Harunobu explained, Nobunagas feelings toward me are sincere. When I

scratched a wooden box and a chest that he sent me as gifts, I found the wood and the lacquer

work of the best quality. His attitude toward me has not changed during the past two yearssince Takeda Katsuyori [Harunobus son] became my relative by marriage. [In 1568,

Nobunaga had proposed a marriage between his niece and Katsuyori]. Saying this, he took

out the chest to show his men.

Harunobu also said to his generals, Besides, you can tell if one is sincere or not by

the exchange of letters. You may be sent letters or messages once or twice, but

communicating more than three times a year is not so easy even for common people, and

those like Nobunaga and me who have provinces to administer are usually too busy to show

others frequent consideration. However, Nobunaga has sent me messages showing his

concern seven times a year. If I sent my response, he would naturally reply. Although I

contacted him only once during the past two years, he still repeatedly paid me his respects as

48Ashikaga Takauji (1305-58) was the first Ashikaga Shogun.49Takeda Harunobu or Shingen (1521-73): The eldest son of Nobutora, and a celebrated daimyo, ruled his provinces wellaided by his Twenty-Four Generals. Uesugi Kenshin was his rival against whom Shingen fought on five occasions atKawanakajima. He was killed by a snipers bullet at Noda Castle in 1573.50Oda Nobutada (1557-82) was the eldest son of Nobunaga and fought beside his father on many occasions. He was inKyoto when his father was attacked by Akechi Mitsuhide but failed to save him. Nobutada withdrew to Nij Castle wherewas forced to commit suicide by Akechi troops.


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if to his parents and superiors. So his wish and intention to become one of my relations are

truthful. Saying this, Harunobu accepted Nobunagas proposal. This shows how Nobunaga

was attentive to everything concerned in these matters.

13. Going Up to the Capital:

In September of 1571, in order to assist the new Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki [who

had become the Shogun in 1568]51, Nobunaga took his army to the capital. Many people of

the capital feared Nobunaga as a demon since they had heard of his wild and violent actions,

and they fled to avoid plunder by his soldiers.

However, as soon as he arrived at the capital, Nobunaga issued strict orders to

maintain peace in the city which were faithfully observed by his men. At one time when

Sugenoya Nagayori was patrolling, he saw a foot soldier squabbling with a merchant.

Immediately Nagayori caught and bound the soldier to a tree for public edification. Thus

Nobunaga and his men gradually gained the trust of the people in the capital.

Since Nobunaga succeeded in controlling the Kinki Area including the capital, the

grateful Emperor [gimachi who ruled from 1557 to 1586] offered him the title of Lower

Junior Fourth Rank, and the position of Director of the Imperial Guard of the Left and the

Right. However, Nobunaga declined, saying, I have only subjugated the rebels against the

Emperor and the Way of Heaven. How could I receive such a distinguished title and a

position as the result of my work? He finally accepted the title of Lower Junior Fifth Rank,

and a position as third ranking officer of the Ministry of Justice. Shogun Yoshiaki also

51Ashikaga Yoshiaki, also called Kgenin (1537-1597): A son of Yoshiharu, took the tonsure, but later was assisted byNobunaga, and became the fifteenth Ashikaga Shogun. Later due to a conflict against Nobunaga, he was expelled fromKyoto, finally was aided by Hideyoshi , and died in Osaka. For Yoshiaki in relation to Nobunaga, see Wakita, pp.19-38.


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offered Nobunaga the position as kanrei, regent of the Shogun, with the title of lieutenant

shogun, which Nobunaga likewise declined.

The Shogun tried to offer a feast with thirteen selections of sangaku music and

dance at his mansion to celebrate Nobunagas victory. However, Nobunaga warned the

Shogun, Recently only small numbers of rebels have been subjugated, and there will be

many more. This is not yet the time to entertain ourselves leisurely in playing and dancing.

Besides, all my men are anxious to return home soon. Probably a solemn ceremony will be

more suitable for the occasion than playing sangaku music. So the Shogun had them playonly five instead of thirteen pieces.

Soon Nobunaga abolished the barriers in the area near the capital. Now the pleased

people could come and go freely. The Shogun, who was disappointed that he could not offer

Nobunaga any grants, gave him a letter of appreciation, calling him his father. [However, in

five years, Nobunaga expelled the Shogun from the capital and ended the Ashikaga bakufu

regime in 1573]. Soon Nobunaga returned to Gifu.

In the New Years season of the following year, Nobunaga heard that a party of

Miyoshi Chkei had besieged the Shoguns mansion at Rokuj in the capital. Nobunaga

quickly took his soldiers to the capital. At his departure, he heard some grooms squabbling

about the weights of the loads on their horses. Immediately dismounting, Nobunaga handled

each load by himself, and said to his grooms, There is no difference in the weight of the

loads. Quickly mount and go! The squabble ended right there.

Meanwhile the Imperial Palace had been terribly damaged because of successive

battles and fighting in the capital. [In 1569] Nobunaga ordered Murai Michiie to take charge


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Nobunaga, I dont feel safe lately because of the constant fighting. I should have a capable

general to protect me. People thought that Nobunaga would choose one of his three veteran

generals, Sakuma Nobumori, Shibata Katsuie, or Niwa Nagahide52 who had been serving

him for many years.

However, to everyones surprise, Nobunaga chose Hideyoshi [who had begun

serving him in 1558]53 for the Shoguns bodyguard. Some were jealous of Hideyoshi who

had the special favor of Nobunaga, and they often slandered him. However, Nobunaga

increasingly favored Hideyoshi, saying, One should choose a man fit for the positiondepending on his talent and ability, but not on the number of the years he has served.

People admired Nobunaga for his efficiency.

15. The Battle of Anegawa:

In 1570, Asai Hisamasa54 and his son, Nagamasa, fought a decisive battle at the

Anegawa River [in present Shiga Prefecture against Nobunaga, who was trying to unify

Japan by aiding Shogun Yoshiaki].55 Before the battle, Asai asked their ally, the Asakura56

for assistance. Asakura Kagekata brought over ten thousand men to help the Asai. On the

52Niwa Nagahide (1535-85): Nagahide served Nobunaga, married Nobunagas niece, and constructed AzuchiCastle.

53Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98), a foot soldier of Nobunaga, later became a taik, regent of Japan.54Asai Hisamasa (1524-73): The son of Sukemasa who established Odani Castle in 1516, and held out against Sasaki.Hisamasa was defeated by Sasaki, and retired in favor of his son, Nagamasa. Asai Nagamasa (1545-1573): A son ofHisamasa. Nagamasa married Nobunagas sister, Oichinokata, and defeated Rokkaku Yoshitaka and Sait Tatsuoki.

Nagamasa then joined the Asakura and the monks of Mount Hiei in an alliance against Nobunaga, and was defeated at theBattle of Anegawa in 1570. A truce was concluded, but hostilities broke out again in 1573 when Nobunaga besieged him in

Odani. Finally Nagamasa entrusted his family to Nobunaga and committed suicide. His eldest daughter, Yodogimi (LadyYodo), married Hideyoshi, and the second daughter married Kygoku Takatsugu. The third daughter married TokugawaHidetada and was the mother of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu.55Battle of Anegawa: In 1570 Nobunaga fought against Asai and Asakura by the Anegawa River in mi Province. Thanksto the assistance of Ieyasu, Nobunaga had a victory which caused the decline of Asai and Asakura. For the intention of

Nobunaga and the young Ieyasus speculation on the battle, see Fukuda, pp.50-62. Also refer to note 26.

56Asakura Yoshikage (1533-73) sided with Asai Nagamasa at the Battle of Anegawa. In 1573 Yoshikage killed himselfwhen under siege ofIchijgadani..For the Asakura and Asai in the Battle of Anegawa, see Fukuda, pp.60-61.


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night of the twenty-seventh [of June], both the Asai and the Asakura camped at yoriyama,

and had a conference regarding their tactics. Nagamasa proposed, It is four miles from here

to Nobunagas camp. Our men and horses are too tired now. So we should move

shogun & samurai; tales of nobunaga, hideyoshi, & ieyasu' by y.k. dykstra [translation of...

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